Stroke Rate Continues to Fall Among Older Americans

TUESDAY, Oct. 1, 2019 -- Starting in the late 1980s, stroke rates among older Americans began to fall -- and the decline shows no signs of stopping, a new study finds.

The researchers found that between 1987 and 2017, the rate of stroke incidence among Americans aged 65 and older dropped by one-third per decade. The pattern has been steady, with no leveling off in recent years.

AHA News: Why Aren't More Stroke Survivors Getting Statins?

THURSDAY, Sept. 26, 2019 (American Heart Association News) -- People with a history of stroke are less likely than those with heart disease to get cholesterol-lowering statin drugs despite the benefits, a new study has found.

Statins help protect the heart and brain by preventing artery plaques — buildups of cholesterol, calcium and other substances in blood vessels — from blocking blood flow and causing a heart attack or stroke. For patients with a history of such conditions, guidelines recommend statins to lower LDL, the "bad" cholesterol.

Walking Pace May Signal If Stroke Patients Can Return to Work

THURSDAY, Sept. 26, 2019 -- Walking speed may indicate whether young stroke survivors are ready to return to work, a new study suggests.

And 3 feet per second may be the threshold that predicts whether they can meet a workday's challenges, the researchers found.

Could Daily Low-Dose Aspirin Still Help Some People?

MONDAY, Sept. 16, 2019 -- Debate over the benefits and drawbacks of daily low-dose aspirin has flared in recent years, with guidelines now generally urging against the regimen to prevent a first heart attack or stroke in healthy people.

But some people with good heart health still might benefit from taking daily low-dose aspirin, a new study from New Zealand argues.

AHA News: Stroke May Lead to Lower Vitamin D

THURSDAY, Aug. 8, 2019 (American Heart Association News) -- Low vitamin D levels do not lead to strokes but can result from them, according to the latest study that looks at the relationship between the two.

Vitamin D is mostly known for helping the body absorb calcium and contributing to bone health. But research in recent decades also has looked at whether vitamin D levels affect cardiovascular disease, although with inconsistent results.

AHA News: Study of Skiers Holds Surprises About A-Fib, Stroke and Intense Exercise

MONDAY, Aug. 26, 2019 (American Heart Association News) -- Exercise is important for health and wellbeing. But past studies suggest high-intensity exercise may be a risk factor for an irregular heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation that sometimes leads to stroke. So, are athletes who develop A-Fib at higher risk for stroke?

Researchers in Sweden looked at men and women who completed one or more races in the 30- to 90-kilometer cross-country skiing event called Vasaloppet from 1989 through 2011, comparing them to a group of non-skiers. The investigators hypothesized high-intensity exercise would increase the risk of A-Fib, thus leading to more strokes in the ski group. But they discovered the opposite may be true.